Call me Sherlock Holmes, but if the 49ers’ 42-19 spanking of the Eagles didn’t give enough evidence that this team is Super Bowl worthy then nothing will.
Many questioned whether the Eagles were being disrespected as home underdogs, but San Francisco avenged its NFC championship loss emphatically by merely doubling the Eagles in yards per play.
Kyle Shanahan’s team scored touchdowns on six straight possessions.
He enforced the Eagles’ best qualities of grit and relentless competition and backfired them to perfection.
Shanahan’s adaptive mind has made him one of several San Francisco personnel that is skipping away with the award for being the best at his job.
Another is Christian McCaffery, who just can’t stop proving how potent he can be in any given football game.
The league’s rushing leader has only three games when he hasn’t topped 100 total yards and just one when he hasn’t scored.
He’s been the nucleus to an offense that features a little bit of everything.
From Deebo Samuel’s Swiss Army-like abilities to Brandon Aiyuk’s deep-ball acumen and George Kittle’s target efficiency, it’s a cast that’s boosted the 49ers to No. 1 in offensive DVOA.
This group exposed an Eagles defense that was previously perceived as elite with a string of missed tackles and defenders left in the wind.
San Francisco went 4-for-4 in the red zone and converted on eight of 11 third downs.
You can say this game was an appraisal on the margin that’s molding between the 49ers and the NFC field.
Meanwhile, the Ravens, Dolphins and Chiefs are busy playing musical chairs in the AFC.
| 2023 NFL Super Bowl odds |
|---|
| 49ers +380 |
| Eagles +480 |
| Chiefs +500 |
| Ravens +650 |
| Dolphins +700 |
| Cowboys +950 |
| Lions +1700 |
| Jaguars +2200 |
| Bills +3500 |
| Texans +5500 |
| Browns +5000 |
| Packers +7500 |
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are never truly out of consideration, but they have looked more one-dimensional than ever as of late.
Lamar Jackson has been his vintage self in the Ravens’ redemption tour, and the Dolphins’ offense has been overwhelming, but these teams have proven vulnerable against tougher opponents.
Betting on the NFL?
The 49ers have paid their dues making three trips to the NFC championship and one to the Super Bowl in the last four seasons. The empty-handed results have been a slow burn to what is right now the most comprehensive and battle-tested product in the NFL.
They have earned oddsmakers’ trust to likely be favorites throughout every game of the playoffs. This is the year to get chalky.
THE PLAY: 49ers (+380 at FanDuel)